David McCowen

A new poster car for the electric vehicle movement could shatter perceptions surrounding battery-powered transport.

The Venturi VBB-3 will take to the famous Bonneville salt flats in August, with the aim of shattering its own record.

Built as a joint venture between Ohio State University and Venturi, a boutique French manufacturer of alternative powered vehciles, the car is expected to push the new record to 700km/h from its current 495km/h mark.

Electric car set to take on land speed record

Goal of 700 km/h for battery powered machine.

The car will be powered by a 2230kW engine and driven by Ohio-based test driver Roger Schroer. He was the same driver who hit a top speed of 515km/h in VBB-2 on his way to the current electric-powered land speed record of 495km/h in 2010. Land speed records are based on two runs in opposite directions on the same day.

Venturi is responsible for environmentally conscious sports cars such as the all-electric 200km/h Fetish spyder and has experimented with solar-powered vehciles as well.

The French firm is pushing the limits of electric powered vehicles. In 2010 it built an battery-powered Citroen Berlingo van that French adventurers Geraldine Gabin and Xavier Chevrin drove from Shanghai to Paris in less than three months. The same vehicle was then used to drive 5800km across Africa - through Kenya, Tanzania, Zambia, Botswanna and South Africa - without any outside assistance.